God's will often feels like an elusive or confusing thing and people generally fall toward one extreme end of the spectrum in terms of what they believe.
A Distant Deity or A Minefield?
On one end of the spectrum there are some who do not think about God's will at all. He's either not there or He doesn't care—too busy being the Supreme Being of the universe to worry about our mundane lives. But God isn't a distant or cruel deity playing hide-and-seek or guessing games.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are others who obsess over God's will to the point of being paralyzed with fear—scared to step out of bounds. We sometimes think: if I make the wrong choice, God will punish me for being out of His will.
Life then is like walking through a field of land mines. Each step becomes an act of faith you desperately hope doesn't blow up in your face.
What Does the Bible Say About God's Will?
Paul described our relationship with God and His will for us in Romans 8:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
God wants us to know His will. In fact, He helps us know His will through the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that sometimes we don't even know what to pray for, but the Spirit of God, who knows our hearts and God's heart, serves as the perfect intercessor between us (see Romans 8:26-27).
"Seeking God's will doesn't oppress and restrict but gives freedom and joy."
Jefferson Bethke
Too often, we overcomplicate God's will for our lives. We think of it as a dot requiring pinpoint accuracy. But thinking of His will more like a circle fits the descriptions in Scripture.
God is a loving Father. And when we keep that in mind, His will isn't something to be scared of but trusted.
A Common Misconception About God's Will
Here's what most people don't know: you can't find God's will for your life in your own strength. Jesus is walking with you, doing the heavy lifting, so that you can experience the abundant life your Father desires for you.
Read Psalm 37:3-4: "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Fathers have great joy in seeing their children filled with joy. As the perfect Father, God wants you—His unique child—to grow and express yourself within the healthy boundaries He has provided in love and wisdom. But it's impossible to do those things on your own strength.
Doing God's will is a natural part of being in His family (see Mark 3:35). When your desires become the same as God's, He gladly gives you what you want and need—more of Him. He's what is best. He's most satisfying. When you want Him more than anything else, everything you do within the circle God has drawn becomes an act of worship. There's no more anxiety about the fine line between secular and sacred.
Paul put it this way: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1). "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
God wants more for you. More joy. More freedom. More life. But ultimately, He wants to make you more like Jesus.